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WiiWare and Virtual Console releases for this week

Two new WiiWare titles this week along with some classic ninja fighting on the Virtual Console Virtual Console

Ninja Combat (1990, NeoGeo, 900 Wii points): Ninja Combat is a side-scrolling action game that puts you against an evil ninja clan known as the Kage Ichizoku. Fight solo or side-by-side with a friend through numerous stages until you reach Ninja Tower.

WiiWare

Prot?thea (Ubisoft, 1,000 Wii points): Prot?thea is a top-down scrolling shooter that blends classic game elements with those of the new Wii controls. This single-player game will have you blasting your way through 10 missions in … Read more

WiiWare and Virtual Console releases for this week

Both WiiWare and the Virtual Console get a pair of additions this week. Virtual Console

City Connection (1985, NES, 500 Wii points): City Connection is one of the first "chase" games to have you running from the law. Use your arsenal of various road-weapons to throw them off track in this unique action game based on the arcade classic. Metal Slug (1996, NeoGeo, 900 Wii points): Metal Slug is the classic side-scrolling shooter where you take control of either Marco or Tarma and destroy everything in your way. Battle through a vast amount of levels as you try … Read more

Get a refurbished Xbox 360 Premium system for $219.99

Cash-strapped game junkies can score a refurbished Xbox 360 Premium console for just $219.99, plus a very reasonable 10 bucks for shipping. That's a pretty solid deal considering that it sells for $350 new.

The Premium version of the mega-popular game system includes a wireless controller, a 20GB hard drive, and a headset. Reseller Blue Bay Electronics doesn't specify the warranty period, but based on other Xbox refurbs I've seen, it's probably 60 days (you should definitely check with the company before ordering).

In addition to playing kick-ass games, the Xbox 360 supports movie and … Read more

When will the next next-generation of game consoles arrive?

Video game console makers have tended to operate on approximately five-year cycles. That is, the manufacturers generally wait about five years between new consoles, give or take a year.

For example, Sony's PlayStation 2 was released in 2000 and its PlayStation 3 in 2006. Microsoft's original Xbox came out in 2001 and its Xbox 360 in 2005. And Nintendo's GameCube first launched in 2001, and its Wii hit store shelves in 2006.

But with the release of the so-called next generation of consoles--with the 2005 release of the Xbox 360 and the 2006 release of the Wii … Read more

WiiWare and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week WiiWare gets two new additions, while the Virtual Console gets a classic scrolling shooter. Virtual Console

SkyKid (1985, NES, 500 Wii points): SkyKid is a horizontal scrolling shooter that has you battling in the skies in order to save Bird Land--yes that's what it's called. Grab the bombs on each level and drop them on various targets to advance.

WiiWare

Critter Round-Up (Konami, 1,000 Wii points): All the animals have escaped and it's up to you to get them back. The puzzle game includes more than 50 levels with various environments. Star Soldier R (… Read more

The Wii needs a storage solution--and fast

With yesterday's launch of the WiiWare service, it's now easier than ever to fill up your Wii to the point of full capacity. It doesn't take much to fill up those 2,163 blocks (about 512MB)--between additional channels, the virtual console, and now WiiWare, you're going to need to be doing some serious maneuvering if you want to experience everything the Wii has to offer. So why hasn't Nintendo come up with a solution that can allow owners to expand the storage capacity?

While the SD card slot is nice, for many Wii owners it has become strictly a way to back up game saves. You can't directly access it in-game nor can you play virtual console or WiiWare games directly off of it. Why not enable this? Surely this can be accomplished with a Wii system update. And by limiting the memory capacity, Nintendo is essentially preventing customers from buying more virtual console and WiiWare titles.

Rumors of a storage add-on have come and gone, with nothing ever manifesting. If Nintendo plans on adding a new WiiWare title every Monday--in addition to the new virtual console titles they release each week as well--something needs to be done to address this growing concern.

While we'd all like for the SD card slot to allow in-game read and writing capabilities, or for the ability to connect a USB flash-drive, we're guessing it will probably be a Nintendo-branded… Read more

Wii virtual console releases for this week

This week's downloads feature a classic Pok?mon puzzler and a beat-'em-up game from 1988.

Pokémon Puzzle League (2000, Nintendo 64, 1,000 Wii points): Departing from the usual Pokémon game formula, Pokémon Puzzle League combines fast action puzzle games along with battling. Players must match like-colored blocks in order to gain an advantage over their opponent. Renegade (1988, NES, 500 Wii points): Renegade tells the classic video game story of one-man-versus-everyone. Fight against bikers and gang members as you attempt to restore peace to the city.

What games do you think … Read more

Monster machine copies 60 USB drives at once

Remember that Aleratec "USB Copy Tower" that replicates 11 thumb drives at a time? Virtual Console's "USB Flash Drive Duplicator" would bury it alive then spit on its grave.

This beast can make digital copies of 60 1GB drives in just over 2 minutes, claiming to be the fastest device of its kind, according to Slippery Brick. And if you're making the copies on an espionage mission behind enemy lines, the machine can encrypt files as they're being duplicated and create a unique key for each one. All that's missing is an … Read more

Wii virtual console release for this week

There's only one game available for download on the virtual console this week, but it's a classic!

Double Dragon (1988, NES, 500 Wii points): Double Dragon is the ultimate side-scrolling action game. What started as a phenomenon in arcades eventually made its way onto the home console, which, in turn, lead to countless sequels. In this classic original, you'll take on a group known as The Black Warriors as you make your way through various stages with nothing but your martial arts training to save you.

What games do you think are missing from the Wii virtual … Read more

Wii virtual console releases for this week

This week's virtual console releases feature a classic beat-'em-up along with a sci-fi RPG--what do they have in common? Both games have you chasing the bad guys so you can get your girl back.

River City Ransom (1989, NES, 500 Wii points): River City Ransom is a classic beat-'em-up action game that takes you into the fictional town of River City. A dude named Slick has taken your girlfriend and the rest of River City hostage. Take him on solo or with a friend. Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (1990, Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points): In … Read more